Wenger recruits wonderkid winger to Arsenal ranks

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has snapped up Luton Town winger Tarum Dawkins for a “significant fee”. Well, we say snapped up but he apparently signed three months ago but it has only just been confirmed for some reason.

Dawkins, 16, trained with Steve Gatting’s Under 16s in the summer before Wenger sanctioned the recruitment of the teenager, who was also on Chelsea’s radar.

“This deal has been a lot more drawn out than others completed by the club in the last two years, and this reflects the level of interest show in Tarum,” Head of Youth Gregg Broughton told Luton’s official site.

“Immediately after our loss in the play-offs last season we were told that Tarum felt his future lay away from Kenilworth Road, and now after nine months of negotiations, we are delighted that Tarum has found a club that he feels can help him fulfil his dream of playing at the highest level.

“He is very quick both with and without the football, can play off both feet and therefore he will fit in very well with Arsenal’s style of play. Playing on either wing he is capable of beating full backs on both the inside and outside making him very difficult to play against.”

YoungGunsBlog described him thus: “Tarum is a tall and skillful wideman, who boasts bags of power and pace. He was seen as one of Luton’s prized assets, and one they’ve tried to keep under wraps, by twice withdrawing him from England duty with the Under 17s.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has vented his anger at the Belgian FA’s use of Thomas Vermaelen in their friendly on Wednesday, threatening to take action against the federation.

The 26-year-old defender played 90 minutes in the friendly against Greece despite carrying an injury and is a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League trip to Liverpool.